Collaborative Research: Algal Food Quality: Its Biochemi- cal Charcterization and Role in Zooplankton Feeding and Fecundity Responses

这项研究调查了藻类食物的具体方面， 影响食草动物摄食和繁殖的品质。 而 藻类的生理条件是一个关键因素 影响摄食率和繁殖，生物化学 藻类的组分通常不被表征，或者 控制。 为了验证这个假设， 藻类的组成随不同的限制性资源（N， P，Si，光），PI将评估生物化学的模式， 在三种藻类的生长速率范围内， 在各种资源限制下，在连续培养中生长。 测试藻类生化成分是否影响摄食 以及食草动物的繁殖率， 不同饵料对蚤状蚤生殖力的影响。 评估 如果脂质产生的季节性变化反映了 浮游植物的质量，PI将监测季节性 三大湖泊藻类和浮游动物脂质含量的变化 跨越营养梯度。 水生生态系统中的食物质量 非常有活力。 其目的是确定一般模式， 藻类和食草动物对可变资源的适应 基地

The research investigates the specific aspects of algal food quality that affect feeding and fecundity of herbivores. While the physiological condition of the algae is a critical factor influencing ingestion rates and reproduction, biochemical components of the algae are frequently not characterized or controlled. To test the hypothesis that the major cellular constituents of algae vary with different limiting resources (N, P, Si, light), the PIs will assess patterns of biochemical components over a range of growth rates in three species of algae grown in continuous cultures, under various resource limitations. To test whether algal biochemical composition affects the feeding and reproductive rates of herbivores, the PIs will measure fecundity of Daphnia pulicaria with the various diets. To assess if seasonal variation in lipid production reflects changes in the quality of phytoplankton, the PIs will monitor seasonal fluctuations of lipids in algae and zooplankton in three lakes across a trophic gradient. Food quality in aquatic ecosystems is highly dynamic. The aim is to identify the general patterns of accommodation of algae and herbivores to the variable resource base.